Jordan Acker is a Michigan lawyer and consultant who is currently serving as a Regent of the University of Michigan. A former Obama administration appointee, he was elected statewide in 2018 to the board overseeing the university for an eight year term. He is also an equity partner at the law firm of Goodman Acker where he practices law and is responsible for the firm's development.
Early life and education
editAcker's father, Gerald Acker, is currently the U.S. co-chair of the International Joint Commission.[1]
Acker attended the University of Michigan graduating in 2006. After a stint working in the U.S. Congress as a communications aide to Rep. John Conyers (D-Detroit), he attended law school at American University in Washington, DC, graduating in 2010.[2]
Career
editFollowing law school, Acker was hired as an associate in the Office of Presidential Personnel at the White House during the Obama administration. He was later appointed to serve as an attorney-advisor in the Department of Homeland Security to Secretary Janet Napolitano and Deputy Secretary Jane Lute.[3]
In 2014, he returned to Michigan and began his career at Goodman Acker becoming responsible for business development and expansion while being a practicing lawyer.[3] In 2018, he became a partner at the firm.[4]
University of Michigan Board of Regents
editJordan ran for the University of Michigan Board of Regents in the 2018 election and was elected statewide with 1.75 million votes becoming the first millennial to serve on the board while winning first place overall and unseating a 24-year Republican incumbent.[5]
Since his election, he has been noted for his "extremely online" approach to university governance and transparency, including through an active account on X.[6] In 2020, he was named to Crain's Detroit Business "40 under 40" list.[7]
Acker became chairman of the Board of Regents on July 3, 2021 for the 2021-2022 academic year.[8]He concluded his term as chairman in June 2022, when the chair rotated to fellow regent Paul W. Brown, garnering praise for his leadership during a tumultuous term.[9]
Acker has participated in discussions around name, image, and likeness (NIL) policies in student athlete compensation.[10] In 2024, his law office was vandalized in an apparent anti-semitic hate crime.[11]
Personal life
editIn 2012, he married Lauren Fell in a ceremony performed inside the Lincoln Park Zoo.[12] The couple were named "Detroiters to Watch" in 2015.[13] They have three daughters.[2]
Acker is known as an avid fan of Michigan sports.[8]
References
edit- ^ Thompson, Carol. "Biden nominates Metro Detroit attorney to chair International Joint Commission". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ a b "Jordan B. Acker". Detroit Injury Lawyer. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ a b "Jordan B. Acker". regents.umich.edu. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ "Law firm adds three new partners". Observer and Eccentric Newspapers and Hometown Weeklies. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ Harmon, Matt (November 7, 2018). "Jordan Acker and Paul Brown unseat incumbents in Board of Regents race". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ "This Extremely Online Regent Has an Unorthodox Vision for College Governance". Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ "Jordan Acker - 40 Under 40 2020 | Crain's Detroit Business". Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ a b Sabin, Rainer. "New Michigan Board of Regents chair Jordan Acker is huge sports fan: 'I trust Jim (Harbaugh)'". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ Dodge, Samuel (June 17, 2022). "Jordan Acker ends University of Michigan regent chair term that was filled with crises". mlive. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ "Why this University of Michigan regent thinks a shift is coming to college NIL deals". Detroit Free Press. 2022-07-05. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
- ^ "University of Michigan regent's law office vandalized with pro-Palestinian graffiti". AP News. 2024-06-03. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
- ^ https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/01/fashion/weddings/lauren-fell-jordan-acker-weddings.html
- ^ Henoch, Vivian (2015-07-21). "NEXTGen Detroiters to Watch". myjewishdetroit.org. Retrieved 2024-10-24.